Around the globe, diverse cultures welcome the new year with unique traditions and celebrations. Each tradition adds color to the festivities, from the ‘Gong Xi Fat Choy’ of Chinese New Year to the Islamic calendar’s Muharram. Unlike the noisy celebrations typically associated with New Year’s Eve, Nyepi offers a quiet and solemn start to the Balinese Saka calendar year, a day when the island falls silent in a unique homage to spiritual renewal and introspection.
The Balinese utilize a variety of calendrical systems. In Bali, two calendar systems regulate the daily rhythm of life. The Gregorian calendar is used for business and government affairs, but Bali has two unique calendar systems for sacred and cultural matters: Pawukon and Sasih. Pawukon, with 210 days a year, schedules all kinds of customary ceremonies and celebrations, like temple festivals and traditional dances. Meanwhile, Sasih, the lunar calendar, dictates when to pay homage to the gods. These calendars vividly depict Bali’s spiritual and cultural rhythm, shaping the island’s colorful life.
If Western societies celebrate the New Year with joyous festivities, the Balinese adhere to a different tradition: Nyepi Day, also known as the Day of Silence. This quiet celebration occurs a day after the dark moon of the spring equinox, marking the new year in the Hindu Saka calendar, which started in 78 AD.
Nyepi is more than just a day of quiet reflection; it’s a time to realign with nature, rooted in ancient legend. Legend has it that King Kaniska I of India, known for his wisdom and acceptance of diverse beliefs, played a crucial role in spreading Hinduism and Buddhism. During this period, Aji Saka traveled to Indonesia, introducing the Saka year and laying the cultural foundation of Nyepi.
Leading up to Nyepi, several vital rituals are performed:
Melasti, Mekiyis, or Melis (three days before Nyepi): This purification ceremony involves cleansing pratima or effigies (statues) to foster a closer relationship with the gods. Participants clean all aspects of nature, symbolically fetching Amerta (the source of eternal life) from water sources like the sea, rivers, or lakes. Village temple deities are ceremoniously bathed in the river by Baruna, the Lord of the Sea in Bali.
Tawur Kesanga (the day before Nyepi): Villages across Bali conduct elaborate demon expulsion ceremonies at significant crossroads, believed to be gathering spots for evil spirits (Bhuta Kala). Seka Teruna, the Banjar youth organization, builds Ogoh-ogoh, giant effigies symbolizing the evil spirits that must be expelled. After sunset, a vibrant procession featuring Ogoh-ogoh parades through the streets, accompanied by traditional Balinese gamelan music played by Seka Teruna, ending the night with the burning of Ogoh-ogoh to cleanse the community from evil forces. To achieve harmony between humans and God, among humans themselves, and with their environment, Tawur Kesanga is performed at every societal level, starting from individual homes. On the evening of Ngerupuk, Hindus celebrating start making noise with bamboo instruments, lighting torches, and burning Ogoh-ogoh to drive away Bhuta Kala, the evil spirits, from our lives.
Nyepi: Nyepi itself is a day of deep silence and introspection. Pecalang, traditional Balinese security guards, patrol the streets to ensure adherence to Nyepi regulations. People refrain from any activity, including work, travel, and entertainment. There must be no traffic, not just cars but also people who must stay home. Lights are kept to a minimum or not at all, radios or TVs are turned off, the internet is also turned off, and even romantic activities are discouraged. The day is filled only with the barking of a few dogs and the chirping of insects, making it a long, quiet day in the busy island calendar. On Nyepi Day, the greatest hope is that the world will be clean and everything will start anew. Humans demonstrate their symbolic control over themselves and the “forces” of the world by adhering to religiously mandated restraints. This marks a period of spiritual renewal and awareness of harmony between humans and the universe.
Ngembak Geni (the day after Nyepi): Known as “Fire Day,” the strict observance of Nyepi ends on this day. Ngembak Geni often involves Dharma Shanti ceremonies. Religious harmony is fostered by visiting each other and wishing a happy new year. Some go to temples to offer Dharma Gita or chant holy songs. Like hymns, kakawin, reading slokas, and no wonder devotees also utilize Ngembak Geni to perform temple prayers followed by a purification ceremony.
From a religious and philosophical perspective, Nyepi is considered a day for self-introspection to reaffirm values such as humanity, love, patience, kindness, and more, which are to be upheld eternally. For the Hindu community in Bali, Nyepi is not just an ordinary holiday; it is one of the most significant religious days, deeply respected, especially in the villages beyond the bustling tourist centers of Bali. While hotels might be exempt from some of the strict Nyepi rules, the streets around them will be closed to pedestrians and vehicles (except for airport shuttles or emergency vehicles), and local security officers (Pecalang) will patrol the beaches to ensure order. Therefore, wherever you stay during Nyepi Day in Bali, it presents a great opportunity to spend time indoors. Indeed, Nyepi Day has made Bali a uniquely distinctive island.
